When to Plant Climbing Beans in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow September to February. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Climbing Beans guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Climbing beans are warm-season legumes that produce heavily over a long season when given a suitable support structure. They include common pole beans (P. vulgaris) and scarlet runner beans (P. coccineus). Runner beans tolerate cooler conditions than common beans. Both fix atmospheric nitrogen via Rhizobium bacteria in root nodules, improving soil fertility.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D - - - - - - S S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 16–30°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Climbing Beans in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Sow November-December only. Short season. Scarlet Runner is the best performer in cool climates as it tolerates lower temperatures than common beans.

Soil
Well-drained, fertile loam enriched with compost. Avoid freshly manured soil (excess nitrogen causes leaf growth at expense of pods).
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours, preferably 8 hours)
Spacing
15cm apart, 80cm between rows
Watering
Regular deep watering during flowering and pod set is critical. Inconsistent watering causes flower drop and tough, stringy pods. Water at base, avoid wetting foliage.

Companion plants: Corn, Squash, Marigold, Radish, Carrot

Avoid planting near: Onions, Garlic, Fennel, Beetroot

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Climbing Beans

Recommended Varieties

  • Scarlet Runner (most cold-tolerant)
  • Blue Lake
  • Purple King
  • Borlotti (climbing)

Key Challenges

  • Short growing season
  • Cool nights reducing pod set
  • Early autumn frosts ending season

Pro Tips

  • Scarlet Runner is the top choice for cool climates. It flowers at lower temperatures
  • Position against a north-facing wall or fence for maximum warmth
  • Pre-warm soil with black plastic mulch before sowing

Harvesting Climbing Beans

When ready: Green beans: pods snap crisply when bent, seeds inside are small and immature, pod surface is smooth (not lumpy from enlarged seeds). Shell/dry beans: leave on vine until pods are brown and papery, seeds rattle when shaken.

How to harvest: Hold the stem with one hand and pull the pod with the other to avoid breaking branches. Use scissors for tough stems. Harvest green beans every 2-3 days. For dry beans, cut entire vine and hang upside down to finish drying.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 9 plants, about $66 worth at today’s Coles prices, checked today.

That is roughly 5 kg at $14.67 a kilo.

Draw your climbing beans bed → No account needed.

Common Climbing Beans Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Fungal and Insect Damage, risk: LOW (score: 33/100)

Organic prevention: Sow thickly and thin later (compensate for losses). Apply neem-based soil drench at sowing time. Crop rotation. Do not follow beans with beans. Mulch well.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your climbing beans: Botrytis / Grey Mould.

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Common Questions About Climbing Beans

When do you plant climbing beans in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does climbing beans grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.